Today I cleaned at Jim and Maria McBride's home like I do every Tuesday morning. Dave and I know the McBride family from church, we served on the Hospital Visitation Team together and we see them at church every Sunday. Ezra their youngest, is about to turn 5 this week and when he was born, they discovered that he was deaf. I remember Dave and I praying over him with others from our church, before he had his Cochlear Implant surgery when he was around eighteen months old. He's a bright eyed, red-haired, curly top whose speech today gives no indication that he has had obstacles he's had to overcome. Jim and Maria's oldest son James, just finished the fifth grade; he is another red-haired, curly top who is quiet, hard-working and sensitive.
Two weeks ago, I cleaned at their house for the first time since school let out for the summer. Emma, an adorable, red-haired, curly top (there is a definite theme here) just turned six and when I saw her I thanked her for making her bed for me. Knowing that it's really important to encourage, acknowledge and appreciate children's efforts, I told her that she made my job a little easier when she did that. (I remake the bed when I clean her room but that's not important.)
Today when I came to clean I saw a little kleenex tissue wrapped parcel, that said "EMMA" and a little tag that read, " THIS IS FOR CONNIE" next to my check. I gently began to open it and to my shock she had placed three one dollar bills inside. Three dollars is a LOT of money for a six year old child! I immediately choked up and started to cry. The more I realized her sacrifice, the harder I cried! My immediate thought was, "I can not take money from a little girl!" I was very overcome with emotion.
As I began to collect myself God told me that I HAD to take her gift, given from a joyful heart. How else would she experience the gift of generosity and blessing someone, if I didn't receive it? This is the note I left for her:
"Dear Emma, Thank you so very much for blessing me today with your gift. I know your Mommy and Daddy are proud of you. God is proud of you too. It makes Him happy when He sees us acting like Jesus. Jesus was always healing people, blessing people and honoring people. Thank you for honoring me today. Miss Connie"
I left another note for Jim and Maria:
"Dear Jim and Maria, Your daughter made me a big puddle of tears this morning. After composing myself , my first thought was that I couldn't take money from a little girl. However, I realized I had to receive her gift so I would not rob her of blessing someone or miss the opportunity to reinforce the generosity she is learning at home and at church. Emma is a very special little girl as you already know. So many times as parents, we second guess our decisions and beat ourselves up over missed opportunities. Emma's sweet spirit is evidence of parenting done right. She was an enormous blessing to me today. A giant blessing in a tiny package."
This evening Maria sent me this message on Face Book:
Hi Connie, Thank you for the encouraging note you left! As I'm sure you know, when in the midst of parenting littles it can feel chaotic and like you are treading water. Especially right now I have been feeling like "gosh am I being a decent parent or just screwing my kids up?!" Your note was God working through you to let us know we are doing something in Him and His will for our little family. I can't express how that has lifted us up tonight. Thank you! Love to you and Dave!!
In the course of our exchange I told her that had I wanted Emma to know that I had noticed she had made her bed and that it had made my job easier.
Maria's reply: Thank you for noticing as she is very observant to detail and lights up when others notice her small acts.
Inside all of us is a yearning to be acknowledged, appreciated, understood...It's an intricate part of our DNA and the way God has wired each of us. What acts of kindness, blessing and honor would we inspire if we took a moment from our day and called out those things we see in the lives of those around us?
